Projects

Projects: Projects for Investigator

The following grants are linked: NE/H010416/1, NE/H010424/1, NE/H010432/1, NE/H010440/1, NE/H010459/1, NE/H010467/1, NE/H010491/1, NE/H010505/1 and NE/H010521/1

OBJECTIVES

Through a pilot study, we aim to determine how an understanding of ecosystem services and the EnergyScape could help guide the deployment of land-based renewables (LBR). This overall aim is split into four objectives. Our first objective is to extend the ecosystem services approach to the deployment of LBR. This will involve the identification of how different ecosystem services are sensitive to the deployment of different LBR. We will identify the most appropriate ways of measuring and categorising ecosystem services within the context of a rural-urban continuum, recognising that some services arem ore open to mathematical analysis and that all vary spatially. National and case-study stakeholder groups will be consulted for their perspectives on ecosystem services and LBR, the most appropriate way of presenting the results, and the most appropriate energy and land use scenarios to be investigated..

The second objective is to develop a methodology for describing an EnergyScape inte rms of interacting resources and conflicting demands. A functional definition of an EnergyScape will be formulated, encompassing renewable energy capture, conversion, transmission, storage and use, to be used to correlate supply assets and energy demand for a geographical area. EnergyScapes can contain combinations of LBR which may share locations or be spatially separated but linked through infr astructure and demand. In part this will be achieved by producing a catalogue of available datasets needed to describe an EnergyScape, characterised by their strengths and weaknesses for modelling at different spatial scales. Temporal issues relating to different LBR and energy demand will be identified at the appropriate scale. Methods to link data and models across spatial and temporal scales w ill be developed. The value and potential application of the concept of EnergyScapes will be assessed.

Our third objective is to develop and demonstrate an integrated approach linking an EnergyScape with models of key ecosystem services for a case-study site, with the potential for future linkages to models representing environmental and socio-economic drivers. We will develop and evaluat e a methodology for describing the EnergyScape and ecosystem services for a specific area from existing data and apply it to Marston Vale as a case-study. The interactions between ecosystem services and different combinations of LBR will be evaluated by examining the EnergyScape options generated in the project. The sensitivity of ecosystem services and the impacts on energy delivery for differen t EnergyScapes will be reported and a protocol for assessment will be developed.

The final objective is to identify how and where to deploy different LBR to jointly promote energy generation and ecosystem services for the case-study site, and to recommend how the approach should be applied and transferred to other sites and situations. Statistical analysis will be employed to examine the interactions between LBR and ecosystem services for the case study site. The statistical confidence in results and their value in providing evidence for informing, planning and approving developments in Marston Vale will be investigated. The project will also develop recommendations for how the approach could be extended to other locations and renewable-energy land-use scenarios, identifying gaps in data, expertise and understanding that need to be filled.

Through a pilot study, we aim to determine how an understanding of ecosystem services and the EnergyScape could help guide the deployment of land-based renewables (LBR). This overall aim is split into four objectives. Our first objective is to extend the ecosystem services approach to the deployment of LBR. This will involve the identification of how different ecosystem services are sensitiveto the deployment of different LBR. We will identify the most appropriate ways of measuring and categorising ecosystem services within the context of a rural-urban continuum, recognising that some services are more open to mathematical analysis and that all vary spatially. National and case-study stakeholder groups will be consulted for their perspectives on ecosystem services and LBR, the mostappropriate way of presenting the results, and the most appropriate energy and land use scenarios to be investigated..

The second objective is to develop a methodology for describing an EnergyScape in terms of interacting resources and conflicting demands. A functional definition of an EnergyScape will be formulated, encompassing renewable energy capture, conversion, transmission, storageand use, to be used to correlate supply assets and energy demand for a geographical area. EnergyScapes can contain combinations of LBR which may share locations or be spatially separated but linked through infrastructure and demand. In part this will be achieved by producing a catalogue of available datasets needed to describe an EnergyScape, characterised by their strengths and weaknesses for modelling at different spatial scales. Temporal issues relating to different LBR and energy demand will be identified at the appropriate scale. Methods to link data and models across spatial and temporal scales will be developed. The value and potential application of the concept of EnergyScapes will be assessed.

Our third objective is to develop and demonstrate an integrated approach linkingan EnergyScape with models of key ecosystem services for a case-study site, with the potential for future linkages to models representing environmental and socio-economic drivers. We will develop and evaluate a methodology for describing the EnergyScape and ecosystem services for a specific area from existing data and apply it to Marston Vale as a case-study. The interactions between ecosystem services and different combinations of LBR will be evaluated by examining the EnergyScape options generated in the project. The sensitivity of ecosystem services and the impacts on energy delivery for different EnergyScapes will be reported and a protocol for assessment will be developed.

The final objective is to identify how and where to deploy different LBR to jointly promote energygeneration and ecosystem services for the case-study site, and to recommend how the approach should be applied and transferred to other sites and situations. Statistical analysis will be employed to examine the interactions between LBR and ecosystem services for the case study site. The statistical confidence in results and their value in providing evidence for informing, planning and approving developments in Marston Vale will be investigated. The project will also develop recommendations for how the approach could be extended to other locations and renewable-energy land-use scenarios, identifying gaps in data, expertise and understanding that need to be filled.